Zambia Lifts Prime TV Suspension With Immediate Effect

The Independent Broadcasting Authority of Zambia has lifted the suspension of Prime Television with immediate effect, after a successful appeal the station made to Dora Siliya, the state’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services.

On the 4th of March, 2019, the Board of the Independent Broadcasting Authority suspended Prime Television after an audit of the Station’s content showed that the Station had breached the Standard Operating Procedure and the IBA Act through the broadcasting of opinionated news, unbalanced coverage and airing of material that was likely to incite violence.

During the suspension period, the Authority ordered the Station to train their reporters in basic journalism, news script writing and ethics.

The Secretary of IBA, Josephine Mapoma said that the Authority is pleased to confirm that Prime television had conducted the training and in addition, the Station had also invited the Authority to give extra training to its reporters on its mandate and other key sections of the IBA Act.

Ms Mapoma said that Prime Television had now been tasked to reel in experts as news analysts and ensure that the analysis is based on facts, objectivity and use of appropriate language.

She said the station had also been ordered to avoid all non-compliance issues brought forward by the Authority in the compliance charge issued to the Station and ensure that institutions and individuals that are subjects of any news are given a chance to respond before the broadcast of that news.

Ms Mapoma has reminded the Zambian public that the IBA has an open-door policy and that they are free to seek clarity whenever in doubt.

She added that the Board remains committed to applying the IBA Act fairly to all Zambia’s broadcasting licensees, in line with their Vision, which is to be an efficient and effective Regulator.